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The SNP’s ‘Calamity Jeane’ keeps failing upwards

Rishi Sunak boasts about a post-Covid ‘jobs miracle’ but when it comes to performing wonders in the labour market, they’ve got nothing on the SNP. Jeane Freeman, former health secretary in Nicola Sturgeon’s devolved government, has been unveiled as the new Ambassador for Community Engagement, Public Health and Innovation at Glasgow University’s medical school. The university calls Freeman’s recruitment ‘a very welcome addition’ and says she will help with projects to ‘improve the health and lives of the people in Glasgow, Scotland and beyond’. It’s nice to see people trying something new at this stage in their working life.

One wonders on what basis Glasgow Uni deemed Freeman the woman for this particular job. Her three years in charge of health in Scotland were not exactly resume-boosting material. During her tenure, NHS Scotland consistently failed to meet the Scottish government’s accident and emergency waiting times targets — until the pandemic hit and saw ‘significant drops’ in A&E attendance.

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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